How to Prune an Autumn Sedum

by Cathryn Chaney

Newly opened flowers of autumn-flowering sedum are pale pink.

When fall arrives in the garden, colorful flowers all too often depart. Showy pink to coppery blooms of autumn sedum (Sedum spectabile) cultivars such as "Autumn Joy" and "Autumn Fire" provide reliable fall color for Sunset's Climate Zones 1 to 23 from late summer into early winter. Pruning new plant stems improves flower stalk strength and overall bushiness and extends flowering further into fall. Prune bronze-y old flowers and brown seed heads to tidy winter-dormant plants or leave them in place to feed birds.

Basic Pruning

1

Inspect the new growth as it emerges in the spring. Perform initial pruning when stems are 8 inches tall.

2

Unlock the pruning shears to expose cutting surfaces and place the shears in a plastic container, pointed ends down.

3

4

Cut weaker stems completely to the ground to open up the plant and encourage stronger growth.

5

Cut off 4 to 6 inches from the top growth of remaining stems. This encourages stems to thicken, preventing floppiness when the wide, heavy flowers open in the fall.

6

Retain cuttings to root them for more plants if desired. Otherwise, discard or compost them.

Optional Prunings

1

Monitor plant growth after the initial pruning. Prune a second time when the stems are 12 inches tall if the growth is too floppy or if you wish to delay flowering further into fall. Remove 4 to 6 inches of stem.

2

Cut flower stalks as desired for flower arrangements or dry flower heads to use them ornamentally. Remove the flower heads strategically to open the plant and to make it more shapely.

3

Prune away spent flower stalks and old plant stems entirely for the winter if desired.

Things You Will Need

Hand pruners

Hydrogen peroxide

6-inch-tall plastic container

Tips

Plant autumn sedum in full sun, especially in areas that have frequent cloudy or overcast weather in summer. This makes stems sturdier and flowers more abundant.

Harvest cut flowers throughout the season for different colors from the same plant. For instance, early flowers of "Autumn Joy" are pale pink, darkening as they age to rose, reddish-pink, and then bronze.

Leave old flower stalks in place through the winter if you wish to mark the location of the dormant clumps.

Provide well-draining soil for autumn-flowering sedum.

Flowers attract butterflies and bees.

Warnings

Avoid excessive watering; autumn-flowering sedum is a succulent plant and stores some water in its leaves and stems.

About the Author

Cathryn Chaney has worked as a gardening writer since 2002. Her horticultural experience working in the nursery industry informs her garden articles, especially those dealing with arid landscaping and drought-tolerant gardening. Chaney also writes poetry, which has appears in "Woman's World" magazine and elsewhere. Chaney graduated from the University of Arizona in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts in English.

Photo Credits

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